Warning: Spoilers for Detective Comics #1090Almost every comic reader is familiar with Batman Iconic no-kill rule. No matter how dark or dangerous a villain becomes, Batman will not tolerate the use of lethal force. Batman not only adheres to this rule, but everyone else in the Bat-family as well. But the beginning of this rule may have some fans questioning its validity.
Although most fans probably believe that Batman’s no-kill rule originated from the trauma of witnessing his parents’ death, it is possible that it originated even earlier, as suggested by a scene in the preview for Detective Comics #1090 by Tom Taylor and Mikel Janin, showing Thomas Wayne during his tenure at Gotham Hospital. In his professional work, Thomas has to deal with his very own version of a no-kill rule.
After a big car accident, a woman is taken to the hospital with her boyfriend. While the woman sustained only minor injuries, Thomas noted that she had injuries from before the accident, suggesting that her boyfriend had been abusive. Thomas’s assistant points out that her boyfriend is in much worse shape and likely won’t survive if Thomas doesn’t intervene, slyly implying that perhaps they should let him pass. Although Thomas seems to consider the implications for only a moment, he quickly asks for the patient to be prepared for surgery, with his goal to save his life despite his crimes.
Batman’s no-kill rule has been with him since the beginning
Detective Comics #1090 by Tom Taylor, Mikel JanÃn and Wes Abbott
Bruce Wayne’s belief in the no-kill rule was not created by the Wayne murders, although that probably certainly had an impact on it. The real reason that Batman has never wanted to kill anyone is because of his father, Thomas Wayne. Thomas was a skilled doctor and one of the greatest in the worldAnd he always did everything he could to save the lives of people, which were not there. in Batman: The Long Halloween By Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, notorious gangster Carmine Falcone shows up at Wayne Manor after being shot, and Thomas still saves his life, an event that Bruce witnesses.
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There is another main reason why Both Batman and Thomas avoid allowing others to dieNo matter how much they feel the person deserves it. in Batman #508 by Doug Moench and Mike Manley, Azrael, who is acting as Batman at the time, kills a serial killer. Because of this death, the last victim of the serial killer is never found and dies. Likewise, Thomas may be tempted to let the woman’s abusive boyfriend die, but he doesn’t know their situation. If the woman, who is pregnant, is financially dependent on him, then letting him die causes significantly more harm than good, for example.
No matter how tempting, Batman will never cross the kill line
Just like his father before him
Killing people is a simple and quick solution, but it is also usually destructive in ways that people cannot even imagine. Both Batman and Thomas’ no-kill rules have been tested over the years, and many fans feel that Batman should just start killing his villains, that he’s doing more harm than good by letting them live. But it’s not Batman or Thomas’ place to kill people, because that can only lead to worse outcomes. There are many other ways Thomas could have saved this woman, such as reporting the abuse, just like that Batman Try to rehabilitate his villains.
Detective Comics #1090 Available October 23, 2024 from DC Comics!